Apparatus for cleansing faucets and their connections.



No. 680,836. Patented Aug. 20, mm. a. BiRKHGLZ. ANSING FAUCETS AND THE"? CBNNESTIU APFRBATUS FDR GLE (Application filed June 1, 1900.)

(Na Model.)

UNITED. STATES PZATENT OFFICE;

RICHARD BIBKHOLZ, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO LIQUID CARBONIC ACID MFG. 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR CLEANSING FAUCETS AND THEIR CONNECTIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,836, dated August 20, 1901. Application filed June 1, 1900. Serial No. 18,719. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD BIRKHOLZ, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and f useful Improvements inApparatusfor Cleans the viscous deposits and other impuritieswhich collect in beer-dispensing faucets and their pipe or hose connections leading from the kegs or harrelsfrom which the beer is drawn,. Its main objects are to facilitate changing the connections for cleansing the dispensing apparatus and for drawing beer or other liquid to be dispensed, to save time, and to avoid waste both of the beer or liquid to be dispensed and of the cleansing materials.

It consists in-certain novel features in, the construction and arrangement of component parts of the apparatus, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims,

The accompanying drawing shows a vertical section of my improved cleansing apparatus as applied to a beer-dispensing faucet and its connections commonly used in barrooms and saloons.

A designates a dispensing-faucet attached in the usual manner to abar-fixture; B, a hose attached by a coupling at one end to the inner end of said faucet and at the other end by a like or similar coupling to one end of a pipe 6, which is adapted to be inserted in a beer barrel or oaskD through the bung-hole in one head thereof. The pipe 0 is provided at its upper end next to the hose B with a stop-cock c, and at its opposite end is formed with a number of small holes to allow the beer or other liquidto flow into it at or near the hot- I tom of the barrelor keg in which it is insorted. q

E is a taperedplug which is adapted to be driven into and tightly close the bung-hole in I the head of the keg or barrel and through which the pipe 0 passes, said plug being provided in the usual manner with suitable means for forming a fluid-tight joint between it and the pipe 0 and having on one side a hose connection 8, to which one end of a hose F is attached. vThe passage in the hose connection 8 leads through the inner end of the plug E around or outside of the pipe'C into the'barrel or keg in which said plug is inserted. The other end of the hose F is attached to the spout of a cock G, which is connected with an air or gas supply pipe H.

The apparatus above described being such as is commonly used in bar-rooms and saloons for dispensing beer does not in itself constitute my invention.

In connection with the above-described apparatus I provide a stationary liquid-receptacle I, which may be conveniently made of a piece of metal pipe three inches, more or less, in diameter, fitted and secured at the endsv by anysuitable means in castings which form the base and top of the receptacle. This receptacle is preferably made of a length corresponding approximately with the length of the barrels or casks D, with which the dispensing apparatus is intended to be employed. At or near its bottom the receptacle I is provided with a waste'cock J, and at or near its top a water-service pipe K, provided with a cook it, is permanently attached thereto. In the upper end of the receptacle Iis inserted a wooden plug-or bushing L, having a conical hole through it corresponding with the bung-holes in the heads of the barrels or kegs D, into which the tapered plug E is adapted to be tightly driven. This wooden plug or bushing L may be held in place by a flanged metal cap or ring Z, fitted over and secured to the casting forming the 'upper end of the receptacle 1.

is a sheet-metal pail or. receptacle provided with a bail and a spout m for pouring the soda solution or other cleansing liquid into the receptacle I and catching the same as .it is discharged from the faucet A.

Myimproved apparatus operates as follows: When it is desired to cleanse the faucet A, hose B, pipe 0, and their connections, the receptacle I is filled or supplied with a soda or other cleansing solution from the pail or bucket M, the spout m of which is inserted too inthe hole of the wooden plug orbushing L. Thepipe O and pldg E having been removed pipe K into the receptacle I.

which the solution has been-caught andsa'ved, having been removed, the faucet A is again a from the barrel from which the beeror other liquid has been drawn are inserted in the receptacle I, as shown at the left in the drawing, and the plug E is driven tightly into the wooden plug or bushing L and the packing therein tightened upon said pipe. The cock ,G, which has been previously closed, is now I opened, and air or other gas under pressure is admitted from the pipeH through the hose F into the top of receptacle I. The cock 0 being opened, the solution is forced from the out and loosen the viscid matter and other impurities contained therein.

cued impurities, is drawn elf into the pail or from.

or gas is subjected in pipe H to flow from opened and water allowed to flow until said faucet and its connect-ions are thoroughly cleansed and rinsed. The faucet Amid the cock kare now-closed and the woste-oockJ is opened, allowing the water to drain incurthe hose B, pipe 0, and receptacle L this has been done, the pipe 0 and plug E are withdrawn from the receptacle 1 and inserted in another barrel D, as shown at the right in the drawing, the-cock 0 having been previously closed. lhe plug E having intethe bung of the barrel and the packing therein tightened upon the pipe (3,

the cooks c and G are opened and the arat-usisineondition for drawing beer or other liquid from the barrel in the usual way.

The impurities drawn off with to settle therein and the clear solution dethe pail being Washed out. In thisway the samesolution will serve over and over to out and loosen the viscid matter collec'ting a in the dispensing apparatus.

It will be evident that a single cleansing apparatus may be employed with a number of dispensing-faucets and their connections and that any-one of the faucets and its connections may becleansed in the manner-above eaplaiued'wi-thout interfering with the oporation of the other faucets and their connections-ofthe hose B and F.

Various modifications in the minordeteils The faucet A 3 is then opened and the solution, with the loospurposes setfor th. bucket'M. The faucet A is closed when the 5 airor-other gas-employed begins toissuerthere- The gas-cock G is now closed and the water-cock k is opened, allowing water under a greater pressure than that to which the air Thepa-ilM, in

. the clonemg solution in to the pail M may be :a-llowcd of construction and arrangement of parts of the apparatus may be made without mate rially affecting its operation and without departing from the spirit and intended scope of my invention.

I claim 1. The combination with liquid-dispensin g apparatus comprising a pipe or tube having a flexible connection with a faucet, and a sealing device having a flexible connection with a compressed-gas supply for securing said pipe by a fiuid-tight joint in a barrel, of a receptacle for a cleansing liquid to which said pipe and its sealing device are adapted to be transferred from the barrel without disturbing their connections with said faucet and with the gas-supply, said receptacle having a permanent waive-controlled water-sup ply connection, substantially as and for the 2. The combination with liquid-dispensing apparatus comprising a pipe having a flexible connection with a faucet and a hollow tapered plug havinga flexible connection with acornpiessed-gas supply for sealing said pipe in the bung-hole of a barrel and supplying gas under pressure thereto, of a receptacle for a cleansing liquid having a permanent, valvecon'trelled water-supplvoonnection and an opening in the top in which said pipe and plug are adapted to be secured without distar-hing their connections with said faucet and gas-supply, substantially as and for the poop set forth.

- 3. The combination with liquid-dispensing rams comprising a pipe having-a. flexible connection with :ajfa-uoet, and a tapered plug having a flexible connection with a compressed-gas supply and adapted to secure and seal said pipe iii-the bung-hole of a barrel, of a fixed receptacle for a cleansing liquid having a permanent valve-con trolled water-supply connection, an opening in the top to receive said pipe and plug, and a valve-controlled waste openingorconnection at or near the bottom, substantially .as and for the purposes set forth.

'4. The combination with liquid-dispensing apparatuscotnpnistng a faucet, a tapping-pipe having a valve-controlled hose connection with said faucet, a compressed-gas supply, and a tapered plug having-a valve-controlled hose connection with said gas-supply and :adepted togsecure and seal said pipe in the bungJrole ofv a barrel, of a metallic receptacle having a valve controlled water-supply connection and a wooden top with an opening corresponding with the bung-hole of a barrel and adaptcd'toreceive said pipe and plug,

substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In witness whereof} hereto afiix my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

. RICHARD BIR'KH'OLZ. Wit

All A. Kenn LA, (inns. L. Goes.

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